Grave Dirt

Grave dirt sourced from the Brushwood Murder victim's grave in Pittsburgh, PA.

Vials are approx. 2” tall.

What happened with the Brushwood Murder?

In January 1927, a chilling murder unfolded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leading to a case of mistaken identity that remains unsolved to this day.

The victim, described as approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall with dark brown, thinning hair, was discovered in a remote area known as Brushwood. He had been shot multiple times in the back, head, and abdomen with a shotgun. Additionally, he bore several stab wounds resembling those made by an ice pick, suggesting he may have been tortured before his death. A "foreign-made" .38 caliber revolver and a broken blackjack were found nearby, though their relevance to the crime remains unclear. The body showed signs of being burned, possibly at another location, before being dumped in the underbrush.

Initially, authorities and Beck's family believed the victim was William Beck. His sisters, after being persuaded by authorities, identified the body as their brother's, leading to Beck's burial in Smithfield Cemetery in Pittsburgh. However, Beck was alive and unaware of his supposed death. He later confirmed that he had never heard of the Brushwood Murder or the funeral held for him.

 The mix-up was eventually discovered, but the true identity of the Brushwood Murder victim remains unknown, and the case remains unsolved.